Marissa Moss, the author-illustrator of a famous Amelia series, is on a visit to WBAIS. Marissa shares her writing skills and experience with all grade levels including English Language Learners.
The fact that Marissa wrote her first book when she was nine resonates with our young students. All the challenges that Marissa faced on her long journey from writing the book to have it published are similar to their struggles: what topic to write about? what inspiring and meaningful words to use? oh, writing turns into a hard work! I don’t want to write anymore! – and they feel discouraged to finish their articles.
Marissa says it happens to every writer, and the key answer is to keep writing and not to give up. Writing builds up the writer’s character, one’s perseverance and persistence.
A whole series of Marissa’s books are based on historical characters and events. The authenticity and deep inner world and strength of the individuals who become her novel characters inspire Marissa with their wholesomeness. The author is aware of the prominent individuals who were not recognized during their life for a variety of reasons, either because of their gender or because of another event that swiped away public attention.
To see the list of Marissa Moss’ books visit her website.
Having Marissa on campus gave me a chance to interview her about what being a writer means to her. Below are her answers to my traditional interview with five questions each one of which can be answered with one, two, three, four, or five sentences.
I love the beginning when you get the idea for your next book and are excited about exploring it. I love the middle where I’m playing with the characters and story, seeing where it goes. And I love the end when I see the actual printed book and am surprised by how it all turned out.
I love history because it involves stories that actually happened. What could be better?
Writing is hard, but the good kind of hard, where you feel yourself being stretched and learning. That’s the fun kind of hard. Promotion is just hard, where you have to work to sell your books.
That’s a tough question! Either Harry Potter to be inside that magical world or a book like Vasari’s Lives of the Artists so I could travel back to the Renaissance and meet Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Look at all kinds of primary sources, from newspapers to photographs to newsreels to material culture (like advertising, fashion, maps, posters, musical recordings). Reading books is a good place to start, but to know a time and place really well, you need to get close to as many aspects as you can. That way you really feel like you’re traveling back in time.
